Winnebago-Lutheran Preview 9/13/12

Winnebago-Lutheran Preview 9/13/12

<p>3-0 Winnebago will take on 3-0 Lutheran Friday in our Game Of The Week.</p>

Rockford, Illinois-The tide is turning a little in the Big Northern Conference
this season with the rise of Lutheran and North Boone.The 3-0 Crusaders are set to take the field
tomorrow night against another 3-0 team Winnebago in our Wendy's Game Of The Week.

This will be one of the biggest games in years for Lutheran.

"I think it'll be like a playoff atmosphere for our
kids and for our school because it's been a long time since they were 3-0, so
there's a sense of excitement," said Lutheran Coach Bruce Bazsali to WTVO.

The Crusaders
haven't been 3-0 since 2000.The
Crusaders are winning with a dynamic offense that averages 58 points per
game.This year they're not only
throwing the ball in their spread offense, they've had success running the ball
behind freshman James Robinson and Junior Jaylen Foster.

"Defenses look at it now and they say that Lutheran
isn't all about passing anymore. They have a run attack. They have two solid
RBS that we need to be ready for," said Lutheran Quarterback Jake Milbourn.

"We've always wanted to run, but we weren't able
to. This year the kids have a much better grasp on the offense," said Bazsali.

"Lutheran is a quality team.They've got a lot of skill guys," said Bazsali. "They remain consistent with their
offense.The move the ball around a lot,
and they've got people that can hurt you."

So does
Winnebago.The Indians have scored 40 or
more points in all three of their games.Ryan Swigart has developed into a very good quarterback, and he's
surrounding by playmakers like Tay Shanklin, Michael Pate, Derek Polkowski and
Jacoby Posley.

"Right now the team has done pretty good. I think
there's still some things we need to work on. Get a little better as a
team.Just keep working hard," said Posley.

It's accepted that
Winebago's a very strong team based on what the Indians have done the past few
years under coach Helm.What this game
will tell us all is whether or not Lutheran is truly ready to compete with the
Big Boys in the Big Northern.

"If you can say you hang with them or come away
with a win or hang with them I think you're definitely moving in the right
directionr as a program," said Milbourn.

"I don't know if this will define us.I think our season will define us, but I
think we've arrived. And I think we're ready for a game like this.We need a game like this," said Bazsali.